Massage apparatus.



L. DE FLOREZ.

MASSAGE APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 19, I913.

Patented Aug. 29, 1916.

SJ M/UQ/ M301 Lam's def'ione lit) LUIS DE FLOREZ, 0F SHORT HILLS, NEWJERSEY.

MASSAGE APPARATUS.

Application fiIed February 19, 1913. Serial No. 749,358. I i

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LUIS on FLoRnz, a

citizen of the United States, and resident of the town of Short Hills,in the county of Essex, State of New Jersey, have invented certain newand ,useful Improvements in Massage Apparatus, of which the following isa specification.

My invention relates to apparatus for the massaging and cleansing of theskin, and is adapted to be used alone or in conjunction with variousforms of massage creams now commonly used.

The principal objects of my invention are, first to produce an apparatusof this type which shall be simple, not likely to get out of order andeasily and cheaply operated with the means at the disposal of any user;second to produce an apparatus which shall be operated by, suction,whereby a cleaning effect is exerted, so constructed that a massagingand cleaning effect may be obtained at the same time and that an excessof vacuum in the instrument shall cause an automatic shutting off of theair inlets so as to prevent injury to the skin, and third to combine thecleaning portion of my improved apparatus with a pump of simple formwhich is not likely to clog, in taking through it thick substances, suchas cream, etc., and which may be operated to produce a relatively highvacuum from an ordinary water faucet.

In the drawings which form a part of the specification, Figure 1 is asectional view of my improved apparatus, shown assembled and attached tothe operating faucet. Fig. 2 is a plan View of the pump shown in thedrawing in the form of an aspirator or jet pump; Fig. 3 is a side viewof the flexible massaging member; Fig. 4 is an .end view thereof, andFig. 5 is a side View of the rigid supporting or hollow member.

Referring to Fig. 1,it will be seen that the apparatus consistsessentially of a flexible massaging member 1, a rigid supporting member2 and a pump or aspirator 3, which is attached to a water faucet orsimilar source of power 4. The flexible massaging member 1, consists ofa hollow shell upon which is formed a plurality of tubular extensions 5,shown in the drawings as being seven in number, although the number maybe increased or diminished according to the size of the apparatusdesired. These tubular extensions are rounded at their ends to formaneasy and comfortable contact with the skin, and are so proportionedthat an excess of vacuum will cause them to collapse, thus shutting edthe air supply to the pump. I find that using a wall a f th of an inchinthickness and an aperture of ,,-th of an inch with the ordinary rubberused for such purposes, will produce the desired results.

Inside'of the flexible massage member is formed a relatively largechamber 6, which thus forms a cushion and prevents a too rigid bearingof the flexible member upon the skin. Entering chamber 6 through a neck7 of the flexible member, is one end of the rigid supporting hollowmember 2. This member is formed with a tube 8 therethrough, which tubeterminates in a slot 9 in the end of the rigid member which enters theflexible member 1. The purpose of the slot is to form a passage whichshall be constantly open from the hollow tubular extensions to theinterior of the supporting member, irrespective of the position of thesurface of the flexible member, so that in the event that by reason ofexcessive pressure 'upon the surface operated upon,- or by reason of ahigh vacuum, the surface of the flexible member is brought into contactwith the supporting member, and an air passage will nevertheless beformed through the slot. The other end of the rigid hollow member 2 isconnected by means of a rubber tube 10, or any other suitable medium tothe air inlet tube 11 of the pump 3.

The pump or aspirator 3 is operated on the injector or jet principle,and consists of a solid cylindrical member having two oppositelydisposed conical bores 12 and13- bore 12 being slightly smaller at itsinnermost extremity than bore 13 and being a slightly less sharp cone.At or near the meeting point of bores 12 and 13 is located the inlettube 11. Below the solid portion of the aspirator is a tubular portion14, having a balile plate or pin 15, which insures the filling of thetubular portion 14 with water. The upper end of aspirator 3 is attached.by means of a hose 16 to a water faucet l.

The operation of my improved device is as follows: The water flowingfrom faucet 4 through tube 16 enters bore 12 of the aspirator and passesout through bore 13 thereof, thus producing a vacuum in the air inletpipe 11 and the apparatus attached thereto,'to wit, the hose 10, rigidmember 2, and flexible member 1. The rigid member 2 is grasped in thehand and the flexible member is applied. to the skin, being moved aboutslightly to produce a massaging action. If the vacuum is too high, thetubular extension 5 of the flexible member 1, will, owing to their formand their contact with the skin, collapse, thus cutting off the airsupply and preventing too much suction being applied What I claim anddesire to secure by Let-- ters Patent is- 1. In a massage apparatus, ahollow flexible member havinga plurality .of flexible, tubularextensions, and a rigid slotted cylindrical supporting member adapted toenterand support the flexible member.

2. In a massage apparatus, a hollow flexible member having a pluralityof tubular extensions formed thereon, a rigid cylindrical supportingmember therefor having a passage therethrough and a slot communicatingwith the passage formed in the end nearest the flexible member.

3. In a vacuum massage apparatus, a hollow flexible member having arelatively large cushioning chamber therein, a support having a passagetherethrough entering said chamber and secured against further inwardmovement, and a plurality of tubular massaging members extending fromthe chamber walls.

4. In the massageapparatus, the hollow flexible member having aplurality of tubular extensions formed thereon, a rigid cylindricalsupporting member therefor having a passage therethrough and a slotcommunicating with the passage formed in the end nearest theflexiblemember, and means for creating a suction therethrough.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of twowitnesses this 17th day of February, 1913.

LUIS DE F LOREZ. WVitnesses:

RAMSAY HOGUET, WALTER S. JONES.

